Educating the ignorant Kumbaya candidate

By Michelle Malkin  •  July 16, 2008 08:16 AM

My syndicated column today looks at Barack Obama’s dopey, dangerous views on ending jihad with “understanding.” He shouldn’t be protesting cartoons. He is a walking, talking cartoon.

***

Diplomas won’t make jihadis go away, Barack
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2008

In all the brouhaha over the New Yorker’s satirical cover cartoon of Barack and Michelle Obama, a truly “tasteless and offensive” passage in the magazine’s feature article got lost. The magazine piece quotes Obama’s recommendations for how to stop jihad in a local Chicago newspaper op-ed he had published eight days after the September 11 terrorist attacks. It’s a self-parody of blind, deaf, and dumb Kumbaya liberalism:

“We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence, and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.”

Is this man for real? Osama bin Laden’s murderous legions are plenty able to “imagine” the “suffering of others.” Go watch an al Qaeda beheading snuff video. Just Google it or surf YouTube. Imagining the suffering of infidels is covered amply in Basic Jihadi Training 101.

You’ll note, too, that Obama’s fresh instinct in the week after the 9/11 attack was to diagnose it as a “tragedy” stemming from lack of “empathy” and “understanding”–instead of yet another deliberate, carefully planned evil act of the long-waged Islamic war on the West that it was.

As for Obama’s continued delusion about the “climate of poverty and ignorance” that supposedly breeds Muslim terrorists, can American politicians ever rid themselves of this unreality-based trope? This belief is part and parcel of the same idiocy that lead the State Department to embrace “spa days” for Muslims to “build bridges” with the Arab world and President Bush to open up our aviation schools to more Saudi students to “improve understanding.” John McCain also alluded to education-as-cure for Islamic terrorism at the L.A. World Affairs Council in March, when he declared that “In this struggle, scholarships will be far more important than smart bombs.” Just what we need: more student visas for the jihadi-infested nation that sent us the bulk of the 9/11 hijackers.

Author and National Review Online blogger Mark Steyn’s sharp rejoinder to McCain then applies to Obama now: “There’s plenty of evidence out there that the most extreme ‘extremists’ are those who’ve been most exposed to the west – and western education: from Osama bin Laden (summer school at Oxford, punting on the Thames) and Mohammed Atta (Hamburg University urban planning student) to the London School of Economics graduate responsible for the beheading of Daniel Pearl. The idea that handing out college scholarships to young Saudi males and getting them hooked on Starbucks and car-chase movies will make this stuff go away is ridiculous – and unworthy of a serious presidential candidate.”

Ayman al-Zawahiri didn’t need more education or wealth to steer him away from Islamic imperialism and working toward a worldwide caliphate. He has a medical degree. So does former Hamas biggie Abdel Rantissi. Seven upper-middle-class jihadi doctors were implicated in the 2007 London/Glasgow bombings. Suspected al Qaeda scientist Affia Siddiqui, still wanted by the FBI for questioning, is a Pakistani who studied microbiology at MIT and did graduate work in neurology at Brandeis.

And as I’ve reported before and must reiterate again for the hard of hearing in Washington, lowering academic standards at American colleges helped al Qaeda mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed further the jihadi cause. In the early 1980s, he enrolled at tiny Chowan College in Murfreesburo, N.C., which had dropped its English requirements to attract–ahem–wealthy Middle Easterners. At Chowan, Mohammed bonded with other Arab Muslim foreign students known as “The Mullahs” for their religious zeal. Mohammed then transferred to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where he earned his degree in mechanical engineering along with 30 other Muslims. Mohammed applied his Western learning to oversee the 1993 World Trade Center bombing plot (six Americans dead), the U.S.S. Cole attack (17 American soldiers dead), and the September 11 attacks (3,000 dead). He has also been linked to the 1998 African-embassy bombings (212 dead, including 12 Americans), the plot to kill the pope, the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, and the Bali nightclub bomb blast that killed nearly 200 tourists, including two more Americans.

Perhaps bleeding-heart Obama thinks a master’s degree in social work would have convinced poverty-stricken, helpless, ignorant, despairing Mohammed to change his mind?

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Comments


  1. #377065
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:29 am, fluffy said:

    Poverty causes radicalism

    Ayers grew up in a large home in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. He attended public schools there until his second year in high school, when he transferred to Lake Forest Academy, a small prep school.[1] Ayers and earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan in American Studies in 1968. (His father, mother and older brother had preceded him there.)[1] He is the son of Thomas G. Ayers, former Chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison (1973 to 1980), Chicago philanthropist and the namesake of the Thomas G. Ayers College of Commerce and Industry.[2][3]

  2. #377066
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:31 am, cea1940 said:

    His buddy Duval Patrick, moonbat govener of Mass said something close to this last year at a Sept 11 rememberance. I guess now we know where he got it from. Can’t these dem’s come up with an orginial thought? Nobama steals speechs and “yes we can” from Duval, and Duval steals stupid crap like this from Nobama.

    Please, can we just have a “do over” of the primaries? Even with this clear outline of BO’s thought process McCain won’t be able to capitalize on it. Are the bloggers really expected to ALL the heavy lifting?

  3. #377074
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:39 am, trailortrash said:

    good article, :)
    until recently i had no idea he was one of those people after 9/11 that was acting as if we deserved the attack, hope this gets more play.
    i had never heard of Obama before 9/11, or before the election began for that matter…

  4. #377075
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:41 am, ajmontana said:

    The United States is the most humanitarian Nation in the world. Oblahma is a tool and just doesnt get it. These fanatics want us dead, period. if he thinks he can do anything about it his brain is oatmeal.

  5. #377082
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:45 am, radio relay said:

    Nice column! Probably talking to the wall would be more productive than trying to talk sense to liberals, but perhaps it will get through to a few.

    I’m beginning to think that it’s wealth that causes radical leftwingers, not poverty, because they all seem to either be rich, or come from money!!

  6. #377085
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:49 am, Member-VRWC said:

    If spa days don’t work, maybe we can bring midnight basketball out of mothballs. That worked so well for inner city youths who simply needed a positive outlet in which to channel their agresssion.

  7. #377086
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:49 am, LifeTrek said:

    Victory Through Delegitimization — Warning — This Is The Post Where I Compare Bush To Reagan

    How do you defeat an ideology?

    Will the policy that can and is delegitimizing the terrorists be given enough time to succeed as it did with the Soviets?
    David

  8. #377096
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:56 am, Danceswithdachshunds said:

    Obama was very close if only he’d modified it slightly -

    The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers:

    ….ISM

    What really bothers me though is the last line:

    Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.

    WHERE do liberals get that idea from?
    Osama had a more money back then than
    Obama will likely see in his entire lifetime.

    We were NOT attacked by Afghani women or children or farmers or peasants who are kept poor, ignorant, helpless and desperate. They had no reason to hate us; we never did anything bad to them. Plus, those poor are kept that way by the SAME people who attacked us. The taliban and al qaida force those poor people to SUBMIT to Islamic fundamentalism. Those who do the dominating are the ones who do the attacking – not the ones who submit.

    Obama is either totally clueless or thinks that most people are.

  9. #377098
    On July 16th, 2008 at 8:59 am, polokfla said:

    Poverty has always been an excuse, never a cause, for criminal behavior. No amount of sociological studies or statistics has ever shown a true correlation, although many have tried.
    But the liberals, using their default position that drips with guilt over their own good fortune, can’t seem to stop equating the two.
    Every problem any individual, worldwide has is always OUR fault. We don’t give enough, we don’t listen good enough, we don’t care enough, we don’t volunteer enough, we’re racists, we’re bigots and of course, we are all xenophobes. (That’s why we have permitted 20 million to sneak over our border and amazingly-we still want to “debate” the issue?)
    I’m sick of people blaming me and my country. I’m tired of a political party that has to have us suffer for them to prosper. And I’m completely disgusted with a pompous, dishonest, rabble-rousing “community organizer” who seems to thrive in this environment.
    I just hope many more share my growning contempt for this man.
    I don’t care who runs against him. We can’t allow this jerk to get anywhere near The White House, except as a visitor.

  10. #377102
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:03 am, bloghooligan said:

    if it’s always about poverty, it’s always the fault of the US.

    speaking of Obama’s umbrage at the New Yorker cartoon, yesterday he claimed that he wasn’t personally offended, but was offended for the muslims americans that would be offended. doesn’t this smack of Wright’s claim that the ‘attacks’ on him weren’t directed at him, but the black church? these magnanimous folks are simply always looking out for others…heh.

  11. #377103
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:04 am, meatpieandtatters said:

    Take away his script, his adoring sycophants, and the liberal media and Barry Obama the contrived phenomena is about as appealing as corn cob toilet tissue.

  12. #377104
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:04 am, ezupirate75 said:

    Mind numbing naivity.

  13. #377109
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:11 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Typical libtards see no evil. We must try to understand what we’ve done to make them hate us so.
    Puhlease! Gag me with a 747 from Salman Park!

  14. #377112
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:13 am, GladzKravtz said:

    ……. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others……

    The standard wording of a college sociology paper. (I’d probably find it in one of my old social work class papers.)
    It’s college speak Mr. Teleprompter uses to try to ‘connect’ with the college crowd. It’s all so obvious, wonder when the young uns will get wise to this.

  15. #377116
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:20 am, Barry F. said:

    Great article, Michelle!

    Unfortunately, I fear the significance of what you have pointed out will be lost on the masses. :-(

  16. #377117
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:21 am, changjin89 said:

    Wednesday Greetings Mrs. Malkin and loyal community. Very well put today about how political reflexes, on both sides of the aisle, are infused with the “Kumbaya” syndrome. As comprehensive a survey of prominent, fundamentally anti-American Muslims as you offered, in tracing the development of al-Qaida and the like, one should recall Sayyid Qutb, who “from 1948 to 1950, (was in) the United States on a scholarship to study the educational system…his experience in the U.S. is believed to have formed in part the impetus for his rejection of Western values and his move towards radicalism upon returning to (his home in)Egypt…Qutb was the first thinker who paired (religious revival) to a radical, sociopolitical ideology.” Qutb is often placed at the root of the ideological development of al-Qaida, rather as Marx or Engels to the development of Communism. His visit to the USA was facilitated 60 years ago by the same spirit of “Kumbaya” that so ignorantly surfaces today in discussions of this kind. Much appreciate that you call the candidates to task accordingly.

  17. #377119
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:22 am, Brian72 said:

    Interesting how WE always need to “understand” our enemies. They have demonstrated that they “understand” us, don’t they?

    Sun Tzu:

    When this support is in place, the nation will certainly be strong.

    When this support is not in place, the nation will certainly not be strong.

    There are three ways the ruler can bring difficulty to the army:

    To order an advance when not realizing the army is in no position to advance, or to order a withdrawal when not realizing the army is in no position to withdraw.

    This is called entangling the army.

    By not knowing the army’s matters, and administering the army the same as administering civil matters, the officers and troops will be confused.

    By not knowing the army’s calculations, and taking command of the army, the officers and troops will be hesitant.

    When the army is confused and hesitant, the neighboring rulers will take advantage.

    This is called a confused and hesitant army leading another to victory.

    Therefore, there are five factors of knowing who will win:

    One who knows when he can fight, and when he cannot fight, will be victorious;

    one who knows how to use both large and small forces will be victorious;

    one who knows how to unite upper and lower ranks in purpose will be victorious;

    one who is prepared and waits for the unprepared will be victorious;

    one whose general is able and is not interfered by the ruler will be victorious.

    These five factors are the way to know who will win.

    Therefore I say:

    One who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be in danger in a hundred battles.

    One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes win, sometimes lose.

    One who does not know the enemy and does not know himself will be in danger in every battle.

    Anyone think Obama has ever read this ancient classic?

  18. #377120
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:23 am, franksalterego said:

    Yes,

    But, McCain is a poopy-head, isn’t he?

    “Poopy-head” notwithstanding, Obama’s positions on every issue are not only wrong, they present a clear and present danger.

    Dangerous for the Economy.
    Dangerous on Foreign Affairs.
    Dangerous on National Security.

    When presented with a choice between a poopy-head and a dangerous
    sh!t-head, I’ll choose the poopy-head, all day long.

  19. #377124
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:28 am, Patchthebun said:

    Obama is either totally clueless or thinks that most people are.

    A little bit of both, I think.

    There’s a mass of people out there who are my age (late twenties) who are blindly following Obama. They have no clue that he’d be a disaster for us, Because they’re not reading articles like this, they’re watching CNN and ready lefty blogs. So how do we get these people to realize what a disaster Obama is?

  20. #377126
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:29 am, pueblo1032 said:

    Radical Islam, educate them, talk to them, negotiate with them??? What do we negotiate??? They want us DEAD!!! What’s to negotiate? How we want to be killed??? Cut off our heads, slice our throats, shoot us, stone us??? We are INFIDELS, only two things RADICAL MUSLIMS

  21. #377127
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:30 am, Patchthebun said:

    Reading, not ready. oops, I’m feeding the baby as I read and type.

  22. #377128
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:30 am, pueblo1032 said:

    Radical Islam, educate them, talk to them, negotiate with them??? What do we negotiate??? They want us DEAD!!! What’s to negotiate? How we want to be killed??? Cut off our heads, slice our throats, shoot us, stone us??? We are INFIDELS, only two things RADICAL MUSLIMS can do convert us, or kill us. Negotiate is not a choice…

  23. #377133
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:34 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Excellent article!

    Obama has proven time and again that he simply is not ready for prime time. The “changes” that he seeks to implement will be very detrimental to the US. I’ll never understand why our stance as the world’s superpower is so caustic to liberals. Why do we need to have talks with Iran? What does the “Lightworker” think of A-jad’s rhetoric and outright aggression towards our troops that are in harm’s way? This man must be stopped. Call me paranoid or just plain crazy but this man and his ideology are downright dangerous. I’m afraid for what this nation will become should he become President.
    One more time – he must be stopped!

  24. #377136
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:39 am, DesertLover said:

    Kudos Michelle …

    Great piece … hope it wakes some of the sheeple in this country up before it is too late …

    Keep up the good work … Thanks …

  25. #377139
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:41 am, Patchthebun said:

    I don’t think anyone here disagrees, 30, but what can people like me do to stop him?

  26. #377140
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:42 am, englishqueen01 said:

    So how do we get these people to realize what a disaster Obama is?

    When the mushroom cloud blossoms over LA, NY, or DC – that’s how. When Obama surrenders and shari’a law is the way of the land – leaving all these blind liberal sheeple living in squalor, persecuted and condemned. When the women are forced to wear burquas, are raped for being infidels and when the men are beheaded for the same.

    But then, it will be too late. They’ll be utterly alone. And totally screwed.

  27. #377141
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:42 am, franksalterego said:

    Some people call him “deluded”
    Some people call him “naive”
    Some people call him “misguided”

    I have a news flash…

    He is NONE of those…He knows EXACTLY what he’s doing.

    If you underestimate him, and what he has in store for you, you’ll regret it.

  28. #377143
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am, lollington said:

    Brian Griffin: Lois, undecided voters are the biggest idiots on the planet. Try giving short, simple answers.
    Tricia Takanawa [to audience member]: Sir, your question, please?
    Principal Shepherd: Mrs. Griffin, what do you plan to do about crime in our city?
    Lois Griffin: A lot. [the audience applauds, Brian signals for her to go with it] Because… that’s what Jesus wants. [the audience applauds louder, Brian signals for more] 9/11 was bad. [audience cheers and applauds loudly]
    Man: I agree with that!
    Lois Griffin: God, I can’t believe how easy this is.

  29. #377146
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:47 am, englishqueen01 said:

    I don’t think anyone here disagrees, 30, but what can people like me do to stop him?

    First and foremost, vote.

    Second, innundate your family/friends/co-workers/blog with information about Obama’s policies and how he *really* is and how *terrible* he’d be for the country. Ask them pointed questions and demand reasoned answers – not just rhetoric about “hope” and “change.”

    There will be some who blindly follow Obama no matter what, but I believe a majority of Americans can be shown how terrible a president he’ll be just by hitting on the facts, and they won’t vote for him.

  30. #377153
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:52 am, GladzKravtz said:

    but what can people like me do to stop him?

    Patchthebun, since you are in your 20s I’d like to ask you what it was that made you not support Obama?

    Maybe if we knew how to approach the 20-30 somethings we could get them to think like you.
    (I think the internet is one way to get the word out.)

  31. #377155
    On July 16th, 2008 at 9:56 am, Christian Soldier said:

    Speaking of education…………

    And now there is a mini-mosque at one of our military academies due to the exponential numbers of Muslims accepted since 2002.
    Don’t know if this is bad or good.

  32. #377159
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:00 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    Great stuff Michelle.

    Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.

    “Most” is wrong but there is a lot of truth in that statement. One only has to visit and live in Haiti to see how real this statement is. That statement, however, does not apply to this incident. This is a problem of religious fanatics – period. You cannot EVER deal with this kind of hate. It has existed from the first family and will continue until this planet is vaporized.

  33. #377166
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:05 am, Die Hippie, Die said:

    At Chowan, (Khalid Shaikh) Mohammed bonded with other Arab Muslim foreign students known as “The Mullahs” for their religious zeal. Mohammed then transferred to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University…

    So KSM and Crystal Meth Gayle Mangum (the lying ho exotic dancer of Duke lacrosse fame) both attended NC A&T? How high can A&T’s academic standards be?

  34. #377168
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:07 am, Barry F. said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:05 am, Die Hippie, Die said:

    Not sure about “academic standards”, DHD. But, Crystal may have been on a work-study program. :evil:

  35. #377170
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:09 am, flmom said:

    Excellent article Michelle. The notion that the radical Islamists can be won over through education is utter nonsense, as you so rightly point out, the ones who are pulling the strings are the most educated among them. The extremists hate democracy because they see it as a threat to their power and control. They are the schoolyard bullies of the Middle East.

  36. #377173
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:12 am, Christian Soldier said:

    Great educational materials for our troops…I will support the cause with $$$$$$$

    http://give2.ccci.org/featured/rdk-context/

  37. #377177
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:16 am, Debbie Schlussel said:

    Abdel Aziz Rantisi is dead and has been for a few years. That was a big news story when Israel assassinated him. He doesn’t “have” degrees. He “had” them. He’s no longer a “HAMAS biggie” except with the 72 virgins.

    And missing from this list is the biggest name, which when I and others have written about this topic, usually include, Syed Qutb, father of the Muslim Brotherhood and Bin Laden. That’s important b/c he went to college in Greeley, CO, and that is what specifically turned him OFF not on, to America (though for no legitimate reason).

  38. #377182
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:20 am, cpodug said:

    30 pcs of silver said: One more time – he must be stopped!

    And failure to stop him is NOT an option!

  39. #377188
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:24 am, Christian Soldier said:

    # 36 DS-Thank you for the head’s up…
    “,,,Syed Qutb…went to college..CA..turned him ..OFF not on to America…”

    Our colleges and universities have a way of doing that now even to our own children…

  40. #377189
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:26 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:20 am, cpodug said:
    30 pcs of silver said: One more time – he must be stopped!
    And failure to stop him is NOT an option!

    No. Not as far as I am concerned.

  41. #377190
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:26 am, Wyatt Earp said:

    I am beginning to think that Obama wants to be part POTUS, part World Social Worker.

  42. #377200
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:35 am, chep said:

    That’s the correct analogy – cartoon character. In fact that is what a good friend and I use in reference to Obama every time we discuss him.

    The guy clearly is capable of getting votes by standing behind a podium yelling that he is going to change the world. That would be a change to have him in office as the President… If you’re ready for the African American version of Jimmy Carter then buckle up.

    I’ve got a simple solution to letting foreigners in our country. Don’t do it unless they have special circumstances and or have a U.S. Citizen to vouch for them.

    A lot of people don’t like Bush but at least he was clearly taking it to the terrorists and knocking them dead. Obama would probably send some candy as an apology for how bad America has been over the years.

  43. #377212
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:47 am, Pat said:

    Let’s not forget Sayyid Qtub, of the Muslim Brotherhood, as another Muslim radicalized by his experience in the universities of the “decadent” West.

  44. #377218
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:51 am, Tennyson said:

    Outstanding article. Thank you MM.

  45. #377219
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:52 am, rambler said:

    I was living in the Chicago burbs during 9/11, so I heard his pathetic comments. Most likely his speach came from his church of 20 years. This guy has not had an original thought in his life. According to libs, if poverty drives crime in the US, then it must drive terrorist activity. Crime and terrorism are driven by the same factors; laziness! It is easier and more fun to be a thug than a productive individual. How many of our ecoterrorists came from the poverty stricken inner cities?

  46. #377221
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:54 am, franksalterego said:

    And failure to stop him is NOT an option!
    cpodug, On July 16th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Now, all we have to do is, convince our host.

  47. #377222
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:55 am, DBNinKY said:

    And as I’ve reported before and must reiterate again for the hard of hearing in Washington, lowering academic standards at American colleges helped al Qaeda mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed further the jihadi cause.

    Sharp points, MM! That any political candidate could expound such an idiotic notion after the events of September Eleventh is beyond comprehension.

  48. #377224
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am, JT said:

    I never thought I’d miss Hillary, but I do. Obama is so dangerous.

    I keep saying to myself, how did we get here?

  49. #377225
    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am, Karmi said:

    Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya

    Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
    Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya
    O Lord, kumbaya

    I don’t recall Nick Berg being given the chance to sing Kumbaya, all I heard were loud screams – at first – and then loud gurgling sounds…as his blood and air mixed with attempted screams.

  50. #377233
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am, lgm said:

    The MM column is a straw man argument. Obama does not say we should not chase and capture bad guys. He says the opposite: we should go where they are and catch them. Right now they are on one side or the other of the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is where our forces should be. That’s reason number wenty three not to have our forces tied down in Iraq.

  51. #377234
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am, sambo said:

    We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness.

    Ok Obama. So easy you could understand it. It starts with a ‘K’ and ends in a ‘oran’.

  52. #377244
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am, franksalterego said:

    I keep saying to myself, how did we get here?
    JT, On July 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am

    Voter apathy.

    The same apathy that, by default, gave us the “Most Ethical Congress, Evah.” with an approval rating approaching the temperature in my freezer.

    The same apathy promoted by this blog every other day, trying to have it both ways.

  53. #377245
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am, Speakup said:

    The liberal delusion is that Islam isn’t really the Borg, resistance may be futile but thats OK, we’ll talk about it and you’ll stop assimilating us, right, uh, please?

    Liberal angst always relates to, fear of trouble in La La land.

  54. #377246
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:06 am, rambler said:

    JT,
    We got here because of all the states who moved up their primaries. Had they waited, the outcome might have been different.

  55. #377247
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:06 am, sambo said:

    Obama does not say we should not chase and capture bad guys. He says the opposite: we should go where they are and catch them. Right now they are on one side or the other of the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is where our forces should be.

    Iraq is on one side of the border! FYI, the ‘bad guys’ are thru out the entire middle east and Africa…and there are many in places such as Eurasia and Londonstien. Since you want to attack an ally (in the weakest since of the word, but none the less) lets go ahead and attack Europe.

  56. #377248
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:08 am, Bachbone said:

    Why is this (Obama superiority complex)a surprise to some people? A cursory examination of his (and his spouse’s) utterings, record, friends and his current advisors (many former Clinton administration members) should be a clue that they think they can talk a turtle out of its shell. And if it doesn’t happen, it’s our fault for somehow making the turtle feel threatened.

  57. #377251
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:08 am, franksalterego said:

    The MM column is a straw man argument. Obama does not say we should not chase and capture bad guys. He says the opposite: we should go where they are and catch them. Right now they are on one side or the other of the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is where our forces should be. That’s reason number wenty three not to have our forces tied down in Iraq.
    lgm, On July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am

    Joe Liebermann is WAY AHEAD of you:

    Senator Obama this morning said that he wants a foreign policy that is “tough, smart, and principled.” This afternoon, I ask: was it tough when Senator Obama voted to order U.S. forces to retreat from Iraq on a fixed timeline—regardless of the recommendations of our military commanders, regardless of conditions on the ground?

    Was it smart when Senator Obama opposed the surge and predicted that it would fail to improve security?

    Was it principled when Senator Obama said that he would order U.S. troops to retreat from Iraq, regardless of the humanitarian consequences for millions of innocent Iraqis—even genocide?

    Was it tough and principled when Senator Obama said he would be open to changing his plan for Iraq after going there and talking to General Petraeus—only to change that position a few hours later after being heatedly criticized by organizations like Moveon.org?

    I say respectfully, the answer to all of those questions is no.

    Senator Obama also said this morning that he wants a foreign policy that recognizes that we have interests “not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi and Tokyo and London.” But what Senator Obama does not seem to recognize is that—in an interdependent world—what happens in Baghdad affects our interests in Kandahar and Karachi and Tokyo and London. What Senator Obama does not seem to understand is that—had we taken the course he had counseled and retreated from Iraq—the United States would have suffered a catastrophic defeat that would have left America and our allies less safe not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi and Tokyo and London.

  58. #377254
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:11 am, Alphonse said:

    Terrorists developing empathy for their victims is about as likely as Israel and the neocons developing empathy for the Palestinians.

  59. #377260
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:14 am, everett_mansfield said:

    Great write-up.

    Obama is, simply put, a stupid man.

    A cross between Pee-Wee Herman and Affirmative Action.

  60. #377261
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:15 am, everett_mansfield said:

    Apologies to Pee-Wee Herman.

  61. #377264
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:15 am, sambo said:

    The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others.

    The essence of this tragedy, sir, is that 3,000 Americans were killed!

  62. #377288
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:26 am, franksalterego said:

    The MM column is a straw man argument. Obama does not say we should not chase and capture bad guys. He says the opposite: we should go where they are and catch them. Right now they are on one side or the other of the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is where our forces should be. That’s reason number wenty three not to have our forces tied down in Iraq.
    –lgm, On July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am

    I submit, YOU are the strawman.

    You’re making the willfully ignorant assumption, The United States can’t fight a war on any more than one front at a time.

    History calls you a liar.

  63. #377290
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:28 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Obama wants us to be equal partners with the Third World.

  64. #377292
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:30 am, cpodug said:

    Hey, frank – isn’t it getting a little old when lgm comes in here and insults our intelligence every day? He, to the best of my knowledge, has never added anything to any discussion or thread – just trying, I guess, to bring the rest of us down to his level of ignorance.

  65. #377298
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:34 am, JT said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am, lgm said:

    The MM column is a straw man argument. Obama does not say we should not chase and capture bad guys. He says the opposite: we should go where they are and catch them. Right now they are on one side or the other of the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is where our forces should be. That’s reason number wenty three not to have our forces tied down in Iraq.

    1) We are fighting the bad guys in Iraq

    2) We cannot just invade Pakistan. Obama is an idiot.

  66. #377304
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:37 am, franksalterego said:

    cpodug, On July 16th, 2008 at 11:30 am

    Nevermind,

    Debate with “lgm” is like fighting a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.

    heard that before?

  67. #377308
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:38 am, thefoundingfathers said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am, JT said:
    I never thought I’d miss Hillary, but I do. Obama is so dangerous.

    I keep saying to myself, how did we get here?

    JT, getting here has been a long arduous process. The process started with the drug culture of the sixties and their rose colored glasses. Not being able to think straight change the thinking from “E Pluribus Unum” to “Its all about me” and “I am entitled”. It also sparked the “We don’t need God and your religion” thinking. Without God and morals then anything goes. This took us from being just materialistic to materialism.

    Oh, I forgot the multiculturalism, politcal correctness, and white guilt phase and that all the good this country has done and people is has liberated must be negated by its mistakes that only the white people caused. Even though we threw out Jim Crow, let’s substitue it with Crow Jim. (Segregation and slavery were wrong.) Therefore, we (whites/conservatives/republicans)must repent to those we have offended (everybody else)and now make ourselves subserviant to them.

    Now the final phase is to break our freedom and capitalistic thinking, which has destroyed the world and elect a socialist/communist that will show us the way. Obama’s and his fellow elistist democrat’s way is complete capitualation and his civilian security force (his proposal) that is just as strong as the military will accomplish it.

    Can you say “Heil Obama!”

  68. #377310
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:39 am, Blind_Mule said:
  69. #377319
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:42 am, groundhunter said:

    You die.

    We win.

    Discussions closed.

    But I want to empathise with you.

    Sure, You die

    We win.

    End of discussion.

    But, can’t we be friends?

    Yes, You die.

    We win.

    End of discussion.

    …..
    That went well. I think we are making progress don’t you?

    Yes, you die.

    We win.

    End of discussion.

  70. #377321
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:43 am, cpodug said:

    frank – heard it before. as far as lgm goes, he’s a seagull that flies in, squawks, poops and scoots. I’d really be surprised if he ever had anything intelligent to say.

  71. #377322
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:43 am, Mojave Mark said:

    I keep saying to myself, how did we get here?

    The education system is how we got here. Politically we’re becoming Latin America due to our horrid education system. The only answer until vouchers come on line is to remove your children from government school. BTW I’m a public school teacher.

  72. #377325
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:44 am, tgusa said:

    First we had Obama sitting around listening to and believing his reverends rants. Then we saw black hole Price display his grasp of science, you got other ones that hide bribe money in their freezer, something straight out of a bugs bunny cartoon, We see the psychobabble coming from the Lees, the McKinney’s, we have witnessed the complete incompetence of politicians like chocolate city Ray. I am seeing a pattern here and its pretty ugly and kinda embarrassing for the rest of us too. So who are the people who are being sucked in to this Black hole of reason, where do they come from, how do they find their way home from their rallies, I’m stumped. I do believe it is more than lack of education, you can lead a horse to water and all that.

  73. #377339
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:53 am, groundhunter said:

    tgusa

    It is that truth is rooted in the narrative. My truth is mine, yours is yours and neither the two shall meet.

    I use my truth to suppress your truth and that is wrong so your truth is better because your are the victim. Victim truth is always stronger.

    Man can determine what is good and what is evil. What works for you is good and what doesn’t is evil.

    There is no grounds for reconciliation. I will always defend my truth against yours and I will use a sob story to do it so that I will be the greater victim.

    Till truth is again grounded outside of man, we will be living in a kind of limbo, a hell, if you will.

    Scares the daylights out of me I tell you.

  74. #377346
    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:58 am, Gabe said:

    I never thought I’d miss Hillary, but I do. Obama is so dangerous.

    I keep saying to myself, how did we get here?

    If you look at polls, whites overwhelmingly support McCain. Men do too. Women overwhelmingly support Obama, and so do blacks and hispanics.

    The way we got to this situation is because of a complete lack of morality in the popular culture. The youth and women are the “Sex Sluts and the City,” Madonna, Britney Spears generation. This, coupled with socialist multicultural indoctrination in the schools and colleges, with no history standards, has produced a clueless generation.

    They are enamored with the exotic and know NOTHING about the uniqueness of American liberties and freedom.

    Our Founding Fathers believed that a lack of morality would be the end of the America they helped form.

    We also have stood by when the public schools have actively tried to NOT assimilate Hispanics and other new immigrants through their bilingualism and multiculturalism.

    It is also the self esteem movement in the public schools. These women and youth for Obama feel a surge of personal goodness when they vote for a black liberal. . .no matter what positions Obama takes, they will vote for him.

    When the mushroom cloud blossoms over LA, NY, or DC – that’s how. When Obama surrenders and shari’a law is the way of the land – leaving all these blind liberal sheeple living in squalor, persecuted and condemned. When the women are forced to wear burquas, are raped for being infidels and when the men are beheaded for the same.

    But then, it will be too late. They’ll be utterly alone. And totally screwed.

    They will wake up when Barack Obama’s incompetence causes several million Americans to die. He is guaranteed to exponentially increase Muslim immigration and will not secure the border.

  75. #377353
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:03 pm, tgusa said:

    groundhunter,
    You and me both, I sometimes wonder if this is what its like as a sane person living in a mental institution. Confiscate their belts and shoelaces and don’t let them near any sharp objects at this rate it won’t be long before our enemies give em something bright and shiny to play with instead.

  76. #377362
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:08 pm, groundhunter said:

    Large shiny objects. Really large.
    Really, really large.

    I have gone over the deep end today. Time to eat something before they put me in a rubber suit.

  77. #377363
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:09 pm, Marc said:

    McCain should begin every speech by saying: “I have a different approach to terrorism than Barack Obama. Right after September 11, 2001, Obama said that we should try to understand the motivations of the terrorists. I don’t care about their motivations. I want to defeat them period.” McCain should be running commercials stressing this every day. The campaign could use Obama’s own words the same way the Swift Boat vets used Kerry’s testimony before the Senate.
    Obama’s claim that terrorism only emerges from lack of education somehow missed the godfather of terrorism himself, one Yasser Arafat. Arafat had an engineering degree from the University of Cairo. His colleague in Palestinian terrorism, one George Habbash, was a medical doctor. Gosh Obama is a dope.

  78. #377364
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:09 pm, Paul-Cincy said:

    Al Qaeda kills based on their ideology which is rooted in their religion and holy book. A soldier does what he has to do. Nothing to do with a lack of empathy. If it was a lack of empathy, the medical community well knows if you don’t have the capacity for empathy, you’re never going to grow it. Obama’s view of reality is so skewed it’s scary. This is the view he’s going to use to govern. He’s not going to become prez and all the sudden think, oh, I’m prez now, I better change my outlook. He’s wonderful, he’d never hurt anyone, let’s all love one another, he will provide jobs, cure the sick, heal the planet. Let’s talk. The only firmness he’s shown is in his desire for “aggressive diplomacy”. There, he’s going to be “aggressive”. He’s going to have serious talks with our enemies. He won’t just be the first black president, he’ll be the first woman president, with all apologies to Maggie Thatcher (and MM herself). He is, as Stuart Smalley says, a “caring nurturer”.

  79. #377366
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:10 pm, franksalterego said:

    How is this SOB getting all this face-time, on National TV?

    Yesterday morning…And, again this morning.

    It’s getting ridiculous.

  80. #377376
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:15 pm, Barry F. said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am, lgm said:

    The cowardly lion giving “straw man” lectures? That’s rich! :lol:

  81. #377378
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am, lgm said:
    That’s reason number wenty three not to have our forces tied down in Iraq.

    HAHHHAHHAHHAHHAAAAHHAHAAA

    Number WHAT you math teacher?

    And I thought we could not ever be entertained by him. I was wrong. ;)

  82. #377379
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:18 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Barry,

    You mean the brainless scarecrow?

  83. #377382
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pm, franksalterego said:

    It’s only a cartoon! But Obama adds that New Yorker cover insults Muslims

    Oh LOOK!!!

    Now, we have our OWN Islamic Rage-Boy!

    An Out of Control Clown Act

  84. #377393
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm, Barry F. said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:18 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Barry,

    You mean the brainless scarecrow?

    I think lgm has what it takes for both parts, Soap. ;-)

  85. #377396
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, heroyalwhyness said:

    a little comic relief . . .

    of McCain, Obama, Clinton & jihad

    Jib Jab presents “It’s time for some campaignin’”

  86. #377409
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:32 pm, Barry F. said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, heroyalwhyness said:

    ROFLMAO :lol:

  87. #377414
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:34 pm, sambo said:

    In all the brouhaha over the New Yorker’s satirical cover cartoon of Barack and Michelle Obama

    Obama said this:
    “You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things,” the presidential candidate told CNN’s Larry King. “And for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate. And it’s not what America’s all about.”

    “You know, there are wonderful Muslim white Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things,” the presidential candidate told CNN’s Larry King. “And for this black liberation theology to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me white Americans, I think is unfortunate. And it’s not what America’s (or Christianity’s) all about.”

  88. #377418
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:36 pm, 29Victor said:

    Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity.

    That’s such an ignorant statement. I hate it when someone says “history tells us…” and then goes on to make a point that history, in reality, proves to be totally incorrect.

    There are dozens, if not hundreds of historical examples of a complete lack of empathy and “numbness to pain…” being innate to “a particular culture or religion.”

    Look at any religion that indulged in human sacrifice, even the sacrifice of their own children. Look at the cultures of ancient Sparta and feudal Japan. What about the slave-holding U.S. South? We hear all the time about the lack of empathy and numbness to the pain of others that existed in that culture.

    In his effort to be politically correct and culturally sensative, Obama made a statement that was foolish on it’s face.

  89. #377423
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:38 pm, josetheguerilla said:

    Wow. This is the most revealing statement I’ve ever read of Obama. It shows he’s not from the real world. This really is an amazing statement. He says, “It grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.” Okay, Al Qaeda number 2 is an M.D. Mrs. Malkin points out that KSM was educated here in the U.S.. Osama bin Laden was from a wealthy family, and studied at a University. Do these terrorist sound like they are poverty stricken, ignorant or in helpless despair? Obama lives in a Marxist fantasy world where European type socialism can cure the world’s children of helplessness, and despair. The statement by Obama shows he has a complete lack of understanding of the Global War on Terror. The way I read it, he’s saying the terrorist are only the channeling point of revenge on the United States because of global poverty. The Terrorist are not responsible for their actions because they have an inability to connect with humanity because the United States has made the Middle East a helpless and desperate place. He never says United States, however in the next paragraph he points out that we (the United States) are responsible for “raising hopes and prospects” of embittered children around the world. In other words the United States is the only one that can help embittered children around the world, because we are the ones who caused it, not the terrorist because they are not the “source of such madness”. According to the Obama Statement, if we don’t cure the world’s poverty, and helplessness problem through socialism then we are not preventing the “source of the madness”.

    /s/

    Jose

  90. #377434
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:46 pm, tgusa said:

    Education is what you make of it. I once had a geography teacher make us read The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck. This was around the time that Nixon was trying to open up China. She spent the entire semester talking about yes even hyping China. I learned a great deal about China that semester, other countries, not so much. Anyway, the lesson I learned was not the one she was trying to teach, I learned that I was darn glad I didn’t live there.

    Here’s something to chew on, early in WWII white Americans went to Canada to join in helping against the Nazi menace even though that was illegal, in spite of the fact they were warned repeatedly not to do it. Still, many Americans said FO and did it anyway. Now Barack and his organization say they are an Africa supporting group, Africa is spiraling out of control via islamists dicktaters, roving bands of bloodthirsty youths you name it. So, where are all the volunteers going over there to help out, what no volunteers, these are not the Americans I used to know. I don’t believe for a minute that these leftists stand for anything and the facts prove it.

  91. #377437
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:47 pm, JT said:

    foundingfathers,

    Was Ronald Reagan just a temporary break from this insanity?

    When Hannity does his man on the street interviews I cringe. Stupid people.

    Hell if we could just eliminate the people who spell it ‘Barak’ from the voter roles, McCain would win in a landslide.

  92. #377441
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:48 pm, slp said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 10:35 am, chep said:

    If you’re ready for the African American version of Jimmy Carter then buckle up.

    chep:

    There is no reason to interject race into the discussion. Didn’t you notice that Michelle’s column said nothing about anyone’s race.

  93. #377447
    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:52 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    On July 16th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, heroyalwhyness said:

    ROFLMAO x’s 100000

    Thanks

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